Parallel Structure Do I maintain parallelism with a participle? Or should I use an infinitive?

This presentation covers distinguishing between parallel and non-parallel elements.

A parallelism item on an objective test might look like this . . .

Sample Item Directions: Choose the sentence that has no errors in structure. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch. Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party, purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating her best friend Maria to lunch. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best friend. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch. Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party, purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating her best friend Maria to lunch. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best friend.

Items in a series must have parallel structure. Parallelism looks like this: Shane , , and . Shane , , and .

Here is an example: Shane ate the pizza, wiped his lips, and burped with contentment. Ate = past tense verb; wiped = past tense verb; and burped = past tense verb.

Don’t create problems by mixing grammatical elements. Non-parallel structure looks like this: Shane , , and . Shane , , and .

The problem looks like this: Shane ate the pizza, wiped his lips, and burping with contentment. Now look what you’ve done! Ate and wiped = past tense verbs, but burping = present participle!

Let’s see how you perform! Quick Test, Part 1 Directions: In the items that follow, choose the sentence that has no errors in structure. Let’s see how you perform!

Item 1 Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors. Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors. Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and parakeets squawking greet the pet shop visitors. Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors. Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors. Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and parakeets squawking greet the pet shop visitors.

Item 2 During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet.

Item 3 Alex looked everywhere for his math book— under the bed, on his desk, and he searched inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— viewing under the bed, searching on his desk, and inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— under the bed, on his desk, and he searched inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— viewing under the bed, searching on his desk, and inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator.

Item 4 Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as he opened the door. simmered tomato sauce in the pan tomato sauce simmering in the pan tomato sauce that simmered in the pan saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as he opened the door. simmered tomato sauce in the pan tomato sauce simmering in the pan tomato sauce that simmered in the pan saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan

Item 5 During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope __________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs. that we eat delicious seafood that eating delicious seafood occurs to eat delicious seafood eating delicious seafood During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope __________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs. that we eat delicious seafood that eating delicious seafood occurs to eat delicious seafood eating delicious seafood

Item 6 Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________. he looked good being good looking one handsome man to look at handsome Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________. he looked good being good looking one handsome man to look at handsome